Shipping container



SHIPPING CONTAINER I i l EIN/@VWF I lalanne Feb. 23, 1937 y A 2,071,962'

UNITED .A sTATEs PATENT ori-lcs Original application November 11, 1931, Serial No. 574,249. Divided and this application January 11, 1935, Serial No. 1,359

17 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to shipping containers To provide alight, strong shipping container y and more particularly constitutes an improve in which the cleats or lreinforcing strips, or ment over the container shown in my Patent both, are advantageously located ,so as to give No. 1,704,118,v of March 5, 1929. This applicagreat protection to the contents of the container tion is a division of my copending application at a minimum cost;

Serial No. 574,249, filed November '11, 1931, which To provide a shipping container which in its i matured into Patent'No. 1,991,071. preferred form has cleated panels on two faces Among thepobjects of my invention are: of the container, which cleats provide handholds To provide a shippingcontainer that is lnso as to make iteasy,l attractive and economical usually light in weight, rigid, strong and eco' in handling and shipping; g

nomical to manufacture; Toprovide a. preferred form of shipping con- To provide a shipping container that instead of tainer with which one face can be opened by having six separate panels assembled to form prying up the nails like in a nailed box, and a .container by nailing along the twelve edges, which on another face maybe opened similar to the body of the container, which is of fibre the way the slotted fibre boxes are now opened; board or the like, is formed with score lines to To provide a shipping container' which can be permit folding around rigid ends so as to 'do economically opened and reclosed for reuse;v away with the necessity of further attaching the 4Io provide a strong, light shipping container side walls to the top or bottom walls; which adapts itself advantageously for reuse as To have the two ends of the foldable body a grocers delivery box or -as a-handy box in blank meet along aface ofthe container instead which to store things; of along one of the edges, thus eliminating the To very considerably decrease the weight of necessity of attaching the meeting parts toshipping containers without sacrificing strength.,

gether along one of the edges of the container; and 'thereby make possible very considerable To provide means whereby the meeting edges savings in freight charges;

of the body blank overlap in such a way that To utilize material in the making of the cleats the face of the container on which they meet and reinforcing strips which are produced from and overlap is perfectly flat and prevents the the same class of wood as that from which entrance intoA the container of dust and dirt, building Iathsare made, and which laths sell J0 meeting edges; p l quality, thereby effecting an economy.

To add reinforcing strips to the wall material To produce a shipping container of bre board and form notches in the ends of said strips to or other light material, having reinforced end facilitate removal of the fastening nails after walls, at least some of the walls being -conthe top has been pried open, the reinforcing structed to have interfolding relation with adstrips being rigidly secured to the wall material; jacent walls to promote strength with unusual To provide an improved type of shipping conlightness;

and also gives additional strength along the forv considerably less than lumber of similar tainer made from nbre board, corrugated board, To so reinforce the wall material of shippingor the'like, and vreinforced with wood cleats on containers as to produce maximum lightness 40 two faces of the container, and which may or with strength.

may not have reinforcing strips on oneor more vOther objects, advantages and capabilities of the other faces of the container; will later more fully appear.A

To provide a shipping container that will re- My invention also resides in the combination, quire less sheet material in its manufacture than -construction and arrangement of parts illusis now required in the so-called regular slotted v trated in the accompanying drawings, and while type fibre or corrugated board boxes, which I have shown therein mypreferred form, with latter are in use in `this country to the extent ofmodifications, I wish it understood that the same hundreds of millions per year; are susceptible of modification and change with- To provide a shipping container that can be out departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

shipped in knocked down condition' from the In the drawings-- box factory to the consumer; l

To provide a light, strong and cheap ship-l form of my shipping container, showing the cover Fig. l'is a perspective view of the preferredping container that can be clos'ed with the nailflaps open and the container packed with cylining machines and sealing equipment in common drical packages. use today; Fig. 2 is a development of the main sheet of V bottom, sides and cover ETW material, having reinforcing strips rigidly secured thereto, said sheet being provided with scorings whereby it may be folded to form the bottom, two sides and two cover aps of the container.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the end panels.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective detail showing the construction to permit the overlapping joint at the meeting edges of the cover flaps.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completed and closed box of the type shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective detail showing one of the slotted ends of the reinforcing strips to permit removal of the nails after the cover ap has been pried open.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of container, and showing the several parts slightly separated from each other prior to being secured together to form a completed container.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the box whose parts are shown in Fig. 7, but showing the parts in assembled relation, with the near side not yet fastened to the end members and the top being partially open.

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewshowing the con'- tainer of Figs. 7 and 8 completed and fastened in closed position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective transverse sectional view through a box similar to that shown in Figs. 7 to 9, but being provided on its interior bottom faces with sheets of veneer, or the like, instead of elongated strips shown in Fig. '1.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, my improved container, as there s hown, comprises primarily four integral sides foldably connected together, the fourth' or top side being preferably constructed in the form of two cover flaps, each being integral and foldably connected to its adjacent side wall.

The sheet of material from which the integral flaps are made is shown secured to the inner face spaced distances, are the strips 2. Sheet I at predetermined positions vis transversely scored, as along lines 3, 4, 5 and 6, these scorings being such as to permit sheet I to be folded along these lines to form the container sides 1 and 8, bottom 9, and top aps I0 and II. In assembling the container sheet I is folded around the end wall members I2, which are formed of suitable sheet material', which is reinforced by the marginal cleats I3. Cleats I3 are provided with notches I4 to receive the ends of reinforcing strips 2 when the sheet I1. is folded around these end wall members, as will be readily understood in Fig.- 1.

As noted in Fig. 2, the reinforcing strips 2 may be spaced from each other as desired, but at the folding lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 the strips are preferably spaced only a slight distance apart, so that when at I in Fig. 2. Rigidly of sheet I, at suitably elongated reinforcing sheet the reinforcing strip 2 extends a slight distance (as indicated at I6) beyond the edge of sheet I. At its middle portion (or other location bined width of two reinforcing strips.'

condition from the factory to the consumer.

'Ihe purpose of this is seen in Fig. 4 to be the provision of overlapping surfaces along the meeting edges of the cover flaps, which greatly strengthens the cover of the container, and also leaves the top of the same flat, which is advantageous both from the standpoint of printing, writing or stenciling on the container cover as well as stacking the containers in piles.

To improve the reuse value of my containers I have provided means to facilitate the removal of lnails from the cover flaps, which nails if not removed would be a hazard to anyone Working with or around the container. This feature is shown in Fig. 6, in which a notch I8 is provided in each end of each of the strips 2, whichA are secured to the cover flaps I 0 and II. In nailing the'cover flaps to the panel I3 of the ends walls (or solid wood end walls if desired), the nails are driven rst through the' sheet of wall material of the cover flaps and then through the slots I8 and into the wood of cleats I3 or other end material. As will be readily understood, the head of the nail will straddle slot I8 so that it will bear against the material of the strip on each side of the slot, but will permit easy removal of the nail after the cover ap has been pried open, which would not be true if the nail were forced to form its own hole through strips 2 when being driven.

As shown in Fig. 1, the reinforcing strips 2 are so positioned on sheet I that in the finished box these strips will prevent the cans, cartons, or other packaged goods packed in the container from coming in contact with1 the outer sheet material, thereby avoiding the danger of same damaging the sheet material and at the 'same time adding rigidity and strength to the container. The integral foldable joints between the bottom,

sides and cover flaps eliminate the necessity of as four sides of the container may be made in one strip (see Fig. 2), and shipped in knocked down All the consumer has to do is assemble the end Wall members in position and fold the sheet' vI therearound, `and nail the side walls and bottom to the end wall members by nailing machinery now in common use. After the container is packed the top aps may also be nailed shut in nailing machines or by hand, as desired.

It is thusseen that I have provided acontainer that may be easily and quickly manufactured and not only pleasing in appearance but is readily adapted for reuse eitherv as a shipping container or as a grocers delivery box or the like.

'I'he modified form of container shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 comprises the two side members 2,0 and 2|, to the former of which is integrally and foldably connected the Abottom flap 22 and top flap 23, While to said member 2| is integrally and foldably connected the bottom flap 24 and the top flap 25. Each of bottom flaps 22 and 24 have elongated reinforcing strips 2 rigidly secured thereto, the'arrangement of the adjacent stripsat the meeting edges of the bottom flaps 22 and 24, in the preferred form, being similar to that described above and shown in Fig. 4.

'Ihe end wall members 26 are each provided with an integral foldably connected upstanding iiap 21, which, in the preferred construction, are of a height suicient to enable them to meet at the center of the box when folded downwardly,

as suggested in Fig. 8. Suitable scoring lines 28 are provided between flaps 21 and end wall members 26 to facilitate their being folded inwardly during the operation of closing the container. Scorings along lines 29 and 30 are also provided in each oi the side wall members and 2| with their integral flaps, to permit said flaps to be folded around the end wall members after the latter have been placed in proper position between the side walls 20 and 2|. Notches I4 and I1 similar to those shown in Figs. I to 5 are also formed in the bottom of the bottom cleat of each of end wallsy 26 to receive reinforcing strips 2 of the bottom flaps.

End walls 26 in position between the side walls, and with the bottom flaps folded against the bottom of the end walls, are shown in Fig. 8, except that the near side wall is shown a slight distance away from the edge of the end walls for the sake of clearness. members 26 in the form of box shown inFlgs. '1 and 8 stand higher after assembly than do the top aps 23,- in order that the flaps 21 in an elongated box may meet at the middley without such waste of material as would be occasioned'in the so-called regular slotted type'bre or corrugated boardA boxes. As will be 4understood, in closing a container of the typeshown `in Figs. 7 to 9, the end aps 21, after the box is filled, will be pushed inwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, after which the top flaps 23 and 25 may be pushed downwardly and attached to the end flaps 21 in the same manner and with the same standard and efficient equipment now used in closing the present slotted type -of shipping carton which is in general use, or they may be fastened into position by nailing into the cleats I3 of the end walls as desired.

A container similar to that shown in Figs. '7 to 9 is shown in Fig. 10, except that sheets viiila and 3l are substituted for the reinforcing strips 2 by being glued, stapled, or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner faces of the bottom iiaps 22 and 24, in such manner that they in conjunction with the bottom flaps will produce an overlapping joint of the type shown in Fig. .4. `These reinforcing sheets 36a and 3l may be made of rotaryv cut lumber, fibre-board, corrugated fibre-board or other suitable reinforcing material as desired. It is thus seen that I have Vprovided a shipping container of unusually light weight but still of 5 great strength, and one which'is cheap to manufacture, pleasing in appearance, Y,canine shipped in knocked down condition, and may be easily and readily reused either for shipping purposes or for delivering or storing any material desired.

) Having thus described my' invention, I claim:

1. A box having walls formed of sheet material one or more of' which walls are ,strip-reinforced walls and are foidably connected to adjacent walls along the longitudinal corners, the closingA 5 wall consisting of flaps integral with and foldably connected to the adjacent walls, a pair of end walls each formed of sheet material and each havin'g wood reinforcing members, the free edges of said flaps meeting in the closing face away from D the edges where said flaps are foldably connected to the side walls, the edges of the flaps meeting in overlapping relation.

2. A shipping container comprising an integral elongatedsheet of wall material of suiilcient 5 length to form a bottom wall, two side walls and The flap extensions 21 of end walltwo cover flaps, said sheet having reinforcing strips secured thereto and being folded along predetermined lines to form edges of the container',

' being formed with a notch in each end adapted to receive a nail or the like to facilitate rem oval of the nail after the container is opened.

4. A shipping container comprising a pair of end wall members each provided with marginal reinforcing members firmly secured to the end members yas distinguishedfrom the other wall members, an integral sheet of wall material to which are rigidly secured reinforcing strips, said sheet being folded around said end wall members and secured thereto, and notches formed in the marginal edges of said end wall members, in which notches the ends of said strips are seated,

5. A shipping container comprising a pair'of sheet material end wall members each provided with marginal reinforcing members, secured to the end wall members as distinguished from the other wall members, an integral sheet of wall `material to which are rigidly secured reinforcing strips, said sheet being folded around said end Wall members and secured thereto, and cover flaps hingedly connected to said sheet and meeting within the area of the cover in overlapping relation.

6. A shipping container comprising a bottom wall, side walls and cover flaps, integrally and foldably connected and formed bf sheet material, said walls and flaps having reinforcing strips rigidly secured thereto, vand a pair of end wall members each provided with wood reinforcing members around and to which said Wall members are folded and secured.

7. A box having sheet material walls, one or more of said walls being provided with reinforcing members secured to thev sheet material, said reinforced walls being foldably connected to adjacent walls along the longitudinal corners, end walls having reinforcing cleats to which the reinforced wall or'walls are secured by means of nails or the like, whereby fastening elements may be driven through the ends of the reinforcing members and into the cleat or cleats of the end walls, said box and Walls being free from binding wire.

8. A container comprising a pair of sheets each folded to form a portion of a bottom, a side and a'portion of a top, those parts forming a portion1 of a bottom having reinforcing material rigidly secured thereto, end wall members about and to which said sheets are folded and secured, said end wall members each havinga sheet material extension foldably connected therewith, said extensions being .folded inwardly over the contents of the container after filling, said portions of va n top being folded over the folded end extensions and secured in position, the bottom portions forming the cover flaps after the box is inverted and opened.

9. A shipping con ainer comprising a pair of opposite side walls formed of sheet material and each having' a ap foldably connected to each of 'its top and bottom edges, the bottom flaps each having reinforcing strips rigidly secured thereto,

three sides of each of which the two side walls and bottom iiaps are secured, said end wall members each having a flap'on its fourth side, each of which last mentioned aps fold under the top flaps, which four flaps are secured into place.

-10. A shipping container comprising a pair of side walls formed of sheet material and each having a flap foldably connected to each of its top terial secured and bottom edges, a pair of end walls formed of sheet material and provided with marginal cleats, an adjacent pair of said naps each having secured to one face a reinforcing member, the reinforcing member on one flap extending a distance beyond the longitudinal edge of thevilap, and the reinforcing members on the adjacent nap stopping short of the longitudinal edge of that flap, each of the pair of side walls and its respective flaps being secured to three sides of each of the end walls, whereby the reinforced aps will meet with a reinforcing member bridging the crack therebetween. y

11. A box comprising a pair of side walls formed of sheet material and each having an integral folded nap, each of said flaps having longitudinal reinforcing strips rigidly secured theref to, a pair of reinforced end wall members to which said side walls are attached, the free edge of one of said flaps having a portion of a longitudinal strip extending therebeyond,`and the free edge of the other of said naps extending beyond a longitudinal strip, so that said edges may be brought together with the edge of one flap overlapping the edge with the free edges substantially abutting, and adjacent strips substantially abutting longitudinally of the box.

12. A box comprising a pair of side members formed of sheet material each having a rst liap foldably connected to one edge, and a second ap foldably connected to its opposite edge, each of said second naps having a sheet of reinforcing mathereto, a pair of reinforced end wall members to which said side members and second aps are secured, said end'wall members each having a flap foldably connected thereto, said end wall flaps being folded under said rst flaps and secured into place.

13. In a shipping container a pair of opposite separate side walls formed of sheet material, each having an integral iap foldably secured to each of its upper and lower edges, and a pair of opposite rigid separate end walls formed of sheet material and each having wood cleat marginal reinforcement, and each end wall also having a ap foldably secured along its upper edge adapted to interfold with the naps secured to the upper edges of the side walls when foldeddnto closed position, said walls being secured together in box relation.

14. A shipping container comprising a single of the strip on the other flap, l

2,071,982 'a pair oi wood reinforced end wall members to body sheet" of flbreboard, corrugated breboarc or the like, which is foldable along predeterminec edges of the container and forms the longitudinal walls of the container and also forms a pair oi foldable flaps, one or more of the' said walls being longitudinally reinforced with wood, fibreboard,

corrugated breboard or thelike, a pair of end walls made up of thin sheet material reinforced with wood members secured directly to the end walls and to which wood members the reinforced body sheet is attached with nails, staples or the like, said foldable flaps of saidfbody sheet meeting on a face of one of the walls away from the edges of the container.

15. A shipping container comprising an integral sheet of wall material having reinforcing strips rigidly secured thereto at spaced intervals, said sheet being foldable along predetermined lines to form a bottom wall. two side walls and two top wall flaps, and a pair of end members each formed of sheet material and having Wood reinforcing means secured thereto forming part of theend members as distinguished from part of the wall material, and to which wood reinforcing means said bottom, top and side walls are secured.

16. A shipping container comprising a body composed of tw'o sheets of flbreboard, corrugated board or the like, which sheets are foldable along predetermined edges of the container to form the longitudinal walls of the container, one or moreof the said walls being longitudinally reinforced with wood, ibreboard, corrugated board or the like, two end walls made up of thin sheet material reinforced with wood members, to which Wood members the two reinforced body sheets are attached with nails, staples or the like, the end flaps of said two body sheets meeting onthe faces of opposite walls of the container when said two body sheets are flded around the two end members.

17. A box having a pair of opposite side walls formed o f sheet material, each of said side walls having an integral top flap and an integral bottom nap, one of the aps of each of said side walls having reinforcing strips rigidly securedacross that portion offits face between its ends the free edges oi form a face of the box, a pair of end wall members each provided v.with wood reinforcing members, each of said entil wall members having an integral flap adapted tofold over and coact with the two side wall aps other than the two having reinforcing strips, whereby the two strip reinforced flaps form one clos gf face and the other two side wall aps and the t'wo end wall flaps form the other closing face ofyghe box.

OLIVER M. pABcocK.

the two last mentioned flaps meeting to 

